Razorstrop composition



Patented Dec. 14-, 1948 No Drawing. Application March 10, 1945, Serial No. 582,181

2 Claims.

This invention relates to razor strops and has particular reference to a novel composition from which an improved strop may be produced, which composition is also useful as a dressing for prefabricated strops.

While my improved composition may be used as a dressing for leather strops as well as strops built from a fabric base, its use as a strop composition per se is limited to fabric base strops such as the cotton linen and silk finish canvas customarily used for this purpose.

An object of theinvention is to lengthen the useful life of the strop and improve its characteristic function. It should be understood that these strops are not intended primarily to sharpen the blade of a razor but rather to smooth the feather edge of the blade after the same has been sharpened on a hone of some sort. I have found that the composition described herein produces a strop which will withstand a wide range of moisture and heat without buckling or cracking and which will stand up remarkably well under the constant application of friction and the heat derived therefrom when the razor is whipped back and forth rapidly during the stropping operation.

The advantages of soap and beeswax in strop compositions have been appreciated heretofore but considerable difiiculty has been encountered because of the fact that these ingredients are immiscible and a uniform, homogeneous composition is almost impossible of attainment for this reason. I have found, however, that the addition of a saponified product of coal tar soluble in water, such as Lysol, is most effective in obtaining uniformity of solution. For purposes of specific illustration it may be stated that the compound known and sold under the trade-mark Lysol, the active ingredients of which are cresylic acid, aryl-phenols and soap and the inert ingredients of which are not more than 35% water and 3.5% glycerine, is eminently satisfactory. The addition of too much Lysol, however, has certain disadvantages in that it carries a rather strong, and to some unpleasant, odor and its acidity is apt to injuriously affect the fabric base from which the strop is built.

In order to reduce the quantum of Lysol to a minimum and still obtain a homogeneous compound of uniform consistency, I incorporate creosote in the mix, creosote being a phenol mixture derived from wood tar distillation and serving somewhat less effectively per unit volume to perform the same function as the Lysol in obtaining an emulsion. The creosote performs two additional functions when incorporated in the mix.

Not only does it impart to the finished strop a most desirable flexibility which remains throughout the life of the strop, but it also helps to set any dye which is added to the mix. I prefer to use black dye, such as Putmans.

In compounding the mix I have found that the following formula obtains highly satisfactory results:

Soap (Colgate Barber Shaving Soap The soap is cut up very fine by using a grater or some similar method and suificient water is added to the above ingredients to dissolve all solids. The mix is then brought to a boil while stirring constantly and permitted to boil for about five minutes with continual stirring. The fabric strop bases are then suspended in the mix while the latter is permitted to boil for about thirty minutes. The heat is then withdrawn and the strops remain suspended in the solution for about eight or ten hours.

During this period of eight or ten hours the mix will become very stiff. After the aforesaid period of suspension the strops are removed and permitted to dry. When thoroughly dried each strop is run through a set of rolls to remove excess composition. These rolls may be of hard rubber or may be metal rollers, preferably brass. Any portion of the mix which is forced over onto the edges of the strop during its passage between the rolls is removed and the strops are ready for use.

My composition may also be used as a dressing. For this purpose the mix is poured into molds when hot and allowed to set. I have found small cubes a very satisfactory form in which to use such dressing sticks.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not mean to limit myself to the exact proportions specified by way of example and that I contemplate such variations therein as will obtain the desirable results set forth.

What I claim is:

1. An abrasive-free composition for building up fabric base razor strops comprising soap, beeswax, creosote and a water soluble saponified coal tar product comprising active ingredients in the form of cresylic acid, an aryl-phenol and soap together with inert ingredients in the form of ap- 1 4 proximately 3.5% glycerin and not more than UNITED STATES PATENTS 35% Water.

2. An abrasive-free composition for building Number Name Date up fabric base razor strops; comprising in the fol- 1,605,179 Ferster et a1. Nov. 2, 1926 lowing proportions: soap 4 lbs., beeswax 1 1b., 5 1,845,250 Driscoll Feb. 16, 1932 creosote 6 02s., and a. water soluble saponified 2,154,721 Blount et all Apr. 18, 1939 coal tar product comprising active ingredients in the form of cresylic acid, an aryl-phenol and soap OTHER R ERENCES together with inert ingredients in the form of Textile Colon-St, VOL 54, February 1932, pages approximately 3.5% glycerin and not more than 0 87 and 35% water. Bennett: Chemical Formula v l. 1 1933 WILLIAMO. FLATT. page O REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 18 file of this patent: I 

